TNA Wrestling lands at Mobile Civic Center arena

TNA Wrestling starts at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 12, at the Mobile Civic Center Arena. Ticket prices range from $20 to $50 plus service charges. They can be purchased at the Civic Center box office and other Ticketmaster outlets. To order by phone, call 800-745-3000; online orders can be placed at www.ticketmaster.com. For more information call the Civic Center box office at 251-208-7381.

Wrestling fans are always excited about bell time. Jeff Jarrett, co-founder of the upstart TNA Wrestling franchise, says he wants them to be excited about door time as well.

TNA, which officially stands for Total Nonstop Action, hits the Mobile Civic Center arena Aug. 12. The bell for the first match rings at 7:30 p.m. — but, according to Jarrett, fans wanting to make the most of the night need to be there at 6:30, when doors open.

"We are the most fan-interactive wrestling experience that I’ve ever been a part of," said Jarrett. (And he’s been a part of a few of them, given that his family has been in the business for three generations.)

"From the time the doors open, the TNA stars are very accessible," Jarrett said. "We really go out of our way to be accessible."

Show up early, and you should find your favorite gladiators ready to shake hands, sign autographs and sign pictures. When the night’s battles are over, fans even have the chance to climb into the ring for photos, Jarrett said.

According to promotional materials, stars on hand for the Aug. 12 event will include Jeff Hardy; the tag team Ink, Inc.; D’Angelo Dinero; co-founder A.J. Styles and Madison Rayne, champion of TNA’s female "Knockouts" division.

Though the show is on a Thursday, the same night as the franchise’s weekly "TNA iMPACT" program on the Spike cable channel, it won’t be televised. But Jarrett said the "in-ring interaction" will be just as vigorous as that seen on TV.

In addition to the Knockouts, TNA shows feature three other divisions: Heavyweight, tag-team and X.

"The X division, it’s not about weight limits, it’s really about no limits," Jarrett said. "If you’ve never been to a TNA show, you will be blown away by the athleticism inside the ring."

"We really want people to come out, and if they’re going to spend their hard-earned money, we want them to get their money’s worth, and then some."